Victorians walk with Pride
Victoria Pride Week gathers speed Friday with the Big Gay Dog Walk at Beacon Hill Park, one of four events on tap through Sunday.
The hugely popular annual event — celebrating the region’s lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, two-spirit and queer communities — has grown to become one of the biggest cultural happenings in the city, with more than 10,000 participants expected for the Victoria Pride Festival on Sunday at MacDonald Park in James Bay.
Victoria Pride Week spreads into several parts of the downtown core, peaking with the 25th annual Victoria Pride Parade at 11 a.m. on Sunday.
An expected 35,000 spectators will take in the parade, with the bulk of those situated in the area of the Fairmont Empress hotel. “We stack up pretty well,” Victoria Pride Society president David Tillson said of his event’s everexpanding profile.
“We’re definitely the second largest parade in the city, for sure.”
The parade begins from the corner of Pandora and Government streets, and culminates after 90 minutes at MacDonald Park.
Various events and activities under the banner of the Victoria Pride Festival will take place at the park until 6 p.m.
The free Big Gay Dog Walk begins Friday at 6 p.m. at the corner of Dallas Road and Cook Street.
Pride in the Word — one of Canada’s largest Pride-related literary events — happens Saturday at 7 p.m. at the Ambrosia Conference Centre (638 Fisgard St.). Tickets cost $13.
For more information on the festival and its associated events, visit victoriapridesociety.org.